Retail

  Bloomberg US consumer confidence rose by more than forecast in August to the highest since May, suggesting that Americans are growing more optimistic about the economy amid falling gas prices. The Conference Board’s index increased to 103.2 from a downwardly revised 95.3 reading in July, the first increase in four months, data on Tuesday showed. The median forecast in ...

  Bloomberg Walmart Inc plans to take Massmart Holdings Ltd. private and will promote the unit’s chief operating officer to head of the company as it prepares to renew its focus on South Africa. The global retail giant plans to buy all of the shares it doesn’t already own of Massmart for 62 rand ($3.65) apiece, a 53% premium to ...

  Bloomberg Australian retailers powered further ahead in July, suggesting cashed-up households are coping well with rapid interest-rate increases. Sales advanced 1.3%, easily exceeding economists’ forecasts for a 0.3% gain, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said in a statement on Monday. The gain was the largest in four months. “Turnover rose in five of the six retail industries,” said Ben ...

  Bloomberg WhatsApp, the popular messaging service owned by Meta Platforms Inc., is rolling out a shopping product in India, the first time users will be able to browse and purchase groceries and other household products without leaving the app. WhatsApp unveiled the new tool alongside JioMart, part of Reliance Industries Ltd.’s Jio Platforms, an Indian tech company that Meta ...

  Bloomberg Vegans with a hankering for chocolate-covered wafers can at last get their hands on a KitKat. Nestle SA, the Swiss food giant, is launching KitKat V, a plant-based version of one of the world’s most popular chocolate bars, with a rollout planned across 15 European countries including the UK. Unlike the classic KitKat, the vegan version uses a ...

  Bloomberg Gap Inc.’s shares rose in late trading as investors took solace in higher-than-expected earnings and improving sales trends even as the chain withdrew its full-year projections. The apparel retailer said macroeconomic uncertainty and its ongoing search for a new executive officer sparked the decision to pull the guidance. Still, the company saw “an improvement in sales trends in ...

  Bloomberg Bed Bath & Beyond Inc shares jumped 18% after a report that the home goods retailer has selected a lender to provide financing as it seeks to boost liquidity. The company has picked a lending proposal after talks with investors for a new line of credit, Bloomberg reported, citing people with knowledge of the private discussions. Bed Bath ...

  Bloomberg A sportswear company founded by an Olympic gold medalist saw the biggest surge in growth in a ranking of the 100 most valuable brands in China this year. Athletic apparel maker Li Ning Co had its brand value jump 66% to $3.4 billion, the quickest pace in the annual list compiled by Kantar BrandZ. Its rise was fuelled ...

  Bloomberg Macy’s Inc cut its full-year forecast for profit and revenue, citing tighter consumer budgets and an industrywide inventory glut that is leading to steeper markdowns. Earnings per share, excluding some items, are now expected to be at least $4 for the fiscal year, compared with a prior outlook of at least $4.53, Macy’s said in a statement. The ...

  Bloomberg Nordstrom Inc, which investors saw as insulated by its affluent customer base, sank after trimming its full-year outlook as the retailer’s Rack business slows amid lower demand and inventory buildup. The department-store operator lowered its forecast for full-year sales to a range of 5% to 7%. That one-percentage-point cut comes just three months after Nordstrom had raised its ...